Benefits Manager

Overview

Benefits Manager - Lead Strategy, Vendors, and Employee Experience Across North America

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Benefits Manager plays a key leadership role in shaping the employee experience across North America. In this position, you'll guide a high-performing vendor management team responsible for delivering competitive, cost-effective benefit programs and clear, impactful communications to eligible employees. You'll oversee the strategy and execution of benefit plans, ensuring they remain aligned with business needs, market trends, and employee expectations.

Beyond day-to-day oversight, you'll analyze current and future benefit costs, monitor utilization trends, and translate insights into actionable recommendations for Corporate Benefits leadership. This is a high-visibility role for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy, operations, and employee well-being-driving programs that make a meaningful difference across the organization.

• Manage and lead a team of benefits professionals (Benefit Specialists and Benefits Coordinator), ensuring balanced workloads, clear goals, and ongoing training and employee development
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and create meaningful development opportunities
• Develop and deliver presentations on benefits-related topic to HR

• Oversee administration of North American benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSAs, EAP, and more
• Lead benefit projects, including plan design recommendations and rate reviews
• Manage employee and administrative appeals; and respond to benefits-related inquiries

• Develop vendor goals and communicate strategies, expectations, and timelines
• Coordinate vendor contract renewals and service level agreements
• Partner with vendors to ensure compliance and successful execution of benefits programs
• Maintain working knowledge of ACA, HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, Section 125, Consolidated Appropriations Act, Hawaii Fair Share Act, and Canadian benefits requirements
• Review and analyze regulatory changes and recommend updates
• Ensure policy and procedure compliance through audits and evaluations

• Develop reporting and analytics, including statistical and census data
• Provide insights and recommendations based on data trends
• Create fact sheets, work plans, and metrics for benefit plans
• Evaluate processes and system needs to reduce costs and improve benefit utilization

• Lead initiatives to enhance employee experience and engagement with benefits
• Partner with HR, Risk Management, Communications, and other stakeholders to implement programs
• Manage creation and delivery of benefits communications
• Ensure clear, accurate, and engaging messaging to increase awareness and participation

• Must have a Bachelor's degree in business, finance, human resources, or related field
• Must have a minimum 7 years of Health and Welfare benefits experience
• Must have 5+ years managing a team
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and not require work authorization sponsorship by our company for this position now or in the future

• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification